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Sundance documentary examines rape in US military

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 10:39 — Dave Culver
Section(s): 
Arts & Culture
Peace & Nonviolence

  • Through interviews with rape survivors and military officials, "The Invisible War" suggests that it's not just the violence and harassment that traumatizes victims but the absence of impartial justice and personal retaliation they often experience after reporting the incident.
  • A 2009 study shows that only 8 percent of military sex offenders are prosecuted.
  • The Battlefield and the Barracks: Two War Fronts for Women Soldiers

Sandy Cohen, Associated Press / Daily Mail UK

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Speaking out: Several rape victims documented, including Marine Corps 1st Lt. Ariana Klay (shown center) who was raped by her senior officer and his friend, have contemplated suicide following their attacks and speak out now for awareness.

The Department of Defense estimates that more than 19,000 military men and women were sexually assaulted by fellow troops in 2010 while serving in the United States armed forces. At least 20 percent of servicewomen and 1 percent of men — an estimated 500,000 troops — have experienced sexual trauma while serving.

These troubling statistics motivated documentarian Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering to make "The Invisible War," a film that examines the epidemic of rape within the military, how it affects victims and why so few cases are prosecuted. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it is a contender in the U.S. documentary competition.

More...

Related:

The Battlefield and the Barracks: Two War Fronts for Women Soldiers, H. Patricia Hynes, Truthout
"The crisis is so severe that I'm telling women to simply not join the military because it's completely unsafe and puts them at risk. Until something changes at the top, no woman should join the military." --Veteran April Fitzsimmons, victim of sexual assault.
 

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